Mortgage Rates Fighting to Stay Near 2017 Lows

Mortgage rates moved lower today, following a policy announcement from the European Central Bank (ECB). Some investors were concerned the ECB might begin sprinkling in clues about rate hikes or an early end to bond buying programs, but there was no such drama in the announcement or the press conference that followed. If you’re not familiar with the ECB, it’s essentially Europe’s version of the Federal Reserve. Both wield tremendously large balance sheets (used to control supply and demand in rates markets, and thus, rates themselves). While central banks can only truly control the shortest term rates, investors who trade the bonds that drive longer-term rates (like mortgages) are nonetheless paying very close attention . Bottom line: with the ECB not sending any threating messages about shorter…(read more)